macOS Catalina brought with it a lot of cool new features and apps, one of which is the Apple TV app. The Apple TV app was designed to replace the old iTunes app as the default multimedia player for macOS and iOS. You can use the new TV app for everything you want to watch, including movies and TV shows. You can even download original titles and TV shows using the app for later viewing.

To use the Apple TV app, all you need to do is to sign in using your Apple ID, then you can buy or rent movies that you want to watch. You can also use the app to subscribe to your favorite channels, such as HBO, Showtime, Apple TV+, and a lot more. You can access all your downloaded content on other Apple devices, as long as you’re logged using the same Apple ID and your device is running the latest version of the operating system.

Compared to the old iTunes app, the new Apple TV app offers a lot more features and is easier to use. The Apple TV app is a great way to organize all your videos on all your Apple devices.

Issues with the macOS Catalina TV App

Since the TV app has been introduced just recently, it is normal to encounter some bugs and errors during the migration process from iTunes. One of the most common problems encountered by Mac users is the error -11800, which prevents subscribers from downloading titles on the TV app on macOS Catalina.

Several Mac users have reported getting the error -11800 when downloading titles on the Catalina TV app. Some users are able to watch the movies on the app but can’t download them for later viewing. Others are not able to stream videos at all. These issues often end up generating the error -11800 which forces the TV app to crash.

What Is the Catalina TV App Error -11800?

The error code -11800 is not unique to the Apple TV app. In fact, it is a common problem among streaming apps, including Netflix, Hulu, the Apple TV app, and others. There are different error messages that accompany this error code, depending on what you’re trying to accomplish. Here are some common error messages you might come across when this error occurs:

Cannot play title. Please try again later.

A problem has occurred while playing the item.

If you’re downloading a title when the error occurred, a message with the title of the file and the download progress (how much of the file has been downloaded) will pop up along with the error code -11800.

What Causes the Catalina TV App Error -11800?

When you encounter the TV app error -11800, you need to consider a lot of factors before zeroing in on a solution. The error could simply be due to a network connection problem, such as an unstable internet connection or slow download speed. If you’re able to access other titles except for the one you’re having trouble with, the problem might lie with the app’s server itself.

If you’re downloading titles that were previously purchased using your iTunes account, there must be a problem with the migration of files to the new TV app. An outdated TV app might also be the reason behind the error. Or it could simply be a bug that will go away once you relaunch the app. You need to look at these reasons first before coming up with a fix.

Fortunately, the TV app error -11800 is no rocket science. If you’re unlucky to have encountered this error, simply follow the solutions we’ve listed below and one of them should fix the error for you.

How to Fix the Error -11800 on the Catalina TV App

Before you try to fix the error, try these basic troubleshooting steps first to see if some simple housekeeping can resolve the problem:

Force quit the TV app if it is running by pressing Command + Q. Relaunch the app, then try to continue from where you left off. If the error was caused by a temporary bug, refreshing the app should do the trick.

Sign out of the TV app by clicking Account > Sign Out from the top menu bar. Sign back in by clicking Account > Sign In.

Switch to a different internet connection. Use a cable if you can. If you don’t have a wired internet connection, connect to a different network instead —one with a more stable and faster connection.

Restart your Mac. Rebooting your system should refresh your system and resolve any temporary problems you are encountering.

No luck? Then give the solutions below a try.

Solution 1: Make Sure Home Sharing Is Turned On.

If you’re using multiple devices using one Apple TV app account, don’t forget to turn on Home Sharing on all your devices so that the content of the app is automatically synced. To turn on Home Sharing, follow the steps below:

On your Mac, click the Apple menu, then go to System Preferences > Sharing. Tick off Media Sharing, then choose Home Sharing. Type in your Apple ID and password to confirm.

On your iPhone or iPad, tap Settings > Music or TV > iTunes Videos. Turn on your Home Sharing, then enter your Apple ID and password to continue.

Once you have turned on the Home Sharing feature on all your devices, the libraries from the shared devices will now be accessible on your Catalina TV app. Try streaming or downloading the title you are having issues with to see if the error has been fixed.

Solution 2: Change the Download Quality.

According to some users, changing the download quality in the settings of the app has worked for some of them. You can access this setting by following the instructions below:

Launch the Apple TV app from the Dock, then click TV from the top menu bar.

Choose Preferences, then click on Playback.

Click Streaming Quality if you want to edit the quality of streaming media. You can choose between Good or Best Available.

If the two options are ticked off, uncheck them and see if the error has been fixed. If they are unchecked, tick both of them off and do the same. Some users were able to fix the issue by enabling these options while others say that disabling them was what worked for them. Try both scenarios if you want.

Solution 3: Reset the TV App Preferences.

A corrupted .plist file is another reason why some users encounter the Catalina TV app error -11800. Using the TV app means dealing with a lot of changing information, and it is possible that the .plist file got corrupted somehow. You can try resetting the TV app’s preferences by deleting the .plist file associated with it. You don’t have to worry because a new .plist file will be generated the next time you use the app.

To delete the Apple TV app’s preferences, do the following:

In the Finder menu, click Go.

Hold down the Option key to reveal the Library folder.

Open the Library folder and find Preferences.

Inside the folder, look for the .plist related to the TV app.

Drag the .plist file to the Trash. If you’re uncomfortable deleting the file, you can drag it to the Desktop for the meantime.

Once the file has been deleted or moved, close the folder and try downloading the problematic title again using the TV app. If no error occurred this time, you can safely get rid of the .plist file from your Desktop.

Solution 4: Clear the TV Apps Cache and History.

If resetting the preferences does not work, you might also need to reset the TV app’s warnings and clear the cache and play history. To do this:

Open the Apple TV app by clicking the icon from the Dock.

Click on TV from the top menu, then choose Preferences.

Click on the Advanced tab.

Click the Reset Warnings button.

Click the Reset Cache button.

Click the Clear Play History button.

Relaunch the TV app to see if doing this helped fix the problem.

Wrapping Up

The TV app is a great way to watch your favorite movies or TV shows on your Mac because everything is already there. You also have the option to stream or download titles. But it can be annoying if you can’t access the movie that you want because of the error -11800. If this is the case, you can refer to our troubleshooting guide above to fix the error. Once you find the solution that works for you, you can then continue to enjoy the entertainment brought by the Apple TV app.